Samoa Geography Profile 2008

Location

Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about half way between Hawaii and New Zealand

Geographic coordinates

13 35 S, 172 20 W

Map references

Oceania

Area

total: 2,944 sq km
land: 2,934 sq km
water: 10 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly smaller than Rhode Island

Land boundaries

0 km

Coastline

403 km

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Climate

tropical; rainy season (November to April), dry season (May to October)

Terrain

two main islands (Savaii, Upolu) and several smaller islands and uninhabited islets; narrow coastal plain with volcanic, rocky, rugged mountains in interior

Elevation extremes

lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mauga Silisili (Savaii) 1,857 m

Natural resources

hardwood forests, fish, hydropower

Land use

arable land: 21.13%
permanent crops: 24.3%
other: 54.57% (2005)

Irrigated land

NA

Natural hazards

occasional typhoons; active volcanism

Environment - current issues

soil erosion, deforestation, invasive species, overfishing

Environment - international agreements

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note

occupies an almost central position within Polynesia